When President Van Buren Protested Against Blood Libel

A Book for Our Children

Good Shabbos, Everybody

By ROBERT GARVEY

Illustrations by Maurice Sendak

The American Association of English—Jewish Newspapers, through its '
feature service, the American Jewish Press, is pleased to cooperate with the
United Synagogue of America in urging more extensive Sabbath. observance
in American Jewish communities. In cooperation with the United Synagogue
of America, we are pleased to present to our readers, in a three—week serial,
of which this is the final installment, Robert Garvey's splended children's
book, "Good Shabbos, Everybody." Maurice Sendak is the book's illustrator.
Leonard Weisgard was the art consultant. The complete book, with its numer-
ous illustrations, is available from the United Synagogue, 3080 Broadway,
New York 27.

On Shabbos morning Joel and Mimmy go to the syn-
agogue. Here they see their friends and they all sino . songs.
After dinner Joel and Mimmy walk in the park.
There is a frog sitting on a lily pad, saying, "Gloomph,
gloomph." Plop! He jumps into the water.
Splash! A sparrow hops into a bird bath. He shakes off
the water and flies away.
A rushing squirrel stops to look at Joel and Mimmy-
then quickly scrambles up a tree!
This afternoon Joel and Mimmy, and Mother and little
Baby Dan, visit Grandma and Grandpa.
Grandma gives them milk and cookies. The children
climb all over Grandpa, while little baby Dan sits on
Grandma's lap.
"Grandpa, please tell us a story," asks Mimmy.
Grandpa smiles and starts— •
"Once upon a time there was a busy little girl. Who
she was I do not know.
"So—turn around once,
turn around twice,
turn. around once again
—and here she isl!"
"Now ME!" says Joel.
Grandpa goes on: "Once upon a time there was a funny
little boy. Who he was, I do not know.
"So—turn around once,
turn around twice,
turn around once again
—and here he -id!"
"Again!" says Joel, "more!"
"Now to ME!" says Mimmy.
Grandpa looks at the clock.
"Four o'clock. Time for me to go to the synagogue?
More stories next Shabbos. Here are some books for you
to look at. Good-by, children!"
Joel and Mimmy enjoy looking at the pictures while
little Baby Dan smiles and holds his book upside down.
It is now Saturday, late in the afternoon. Almost the
end of the day. The sky will soon grow dark.
But Shabbos is not yet over.
Joel holds the Havdalah candle while Daddy lights it.
Then Daddy holds the cup of wine and says a blessing.
He shakes a box of spices. Everyone enjoys this spicy
smell.
Then Daddy holds his hands beside the candle flame.
The light shines on his fingers.
"Light is for Shabbos—the day of rest," says Daddy.
And as it makes a shadow on the other side of his hands
Daddy says:
"The shadow is for the plain days of the week — the
-
work days."
Mimmy snuffs out the candle. Everyone sips the wine.
Now Shabbos is over.
Daddy says, "A good week—a happy new week, for
everybody!
Everyone gives everybody a nice, big hug to start the
new week right. And everyone sings the Havdalah song,
which sounds like this:
SHAVUA TOV

(Which Means "A Good Week")

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Secretary of State John Fri rsyth Wrote L. S.
Repudiation of Damas c us Ritual Murder Lie

aimed to keep alive a stupid 1840, Robert peel introduced the
medieval lie. Meetings of Chris- question of the Damascus libel
An American Jewish Press Feature
as well as Jews were held by declaring "that it was merely
A New York Times correspon- tians
during July and August of 1840
dent recently revived interest in in London and Manchester, Eng- necessary to mention the matter
President Martin Van Buren by land, and in New York, Philadel- in the lower house, to reach the
phia and Richmond. Va., in the great ends of justice and hu-
United States. The expressions manity." Lord Palmerston re-
of sympathy on the part of the plied to Peel with this state-
English-speaking countries led ment:
to the honorable release of the
"I have already directed the
innocent victims, following the English consul-general, Hodges,
intercession of a mission to Syria to •represent to Mehmet Ali what
by leading European Jews, head- effect the news of such atrocities
ed by Sir Moses Montefiore.
must produce in Europe, and
Van Buren's Secretary Acts
that it was in his own interest
It was in response to resolu- to inquire into the matter, and
tions adopted at a protest meet- hand over to punishment the
ing in New York on Aug. 19, guilty parties, if they were dis-
1840, signed by J. B. Kurstieedt covered, whilst the innocent vit-
as chairman and Theodore J. tims should be indemnified, if
Seixas as secretary, that Secre- this were still possible. I have
tary of State John Forsyth, writ- also sent instructions to her =l-
ing in the name of President jesty's consul in Damascus to
Martin Van Buren, stated that make a thorough investigation
"the heartrending scenes which into all that has taken place,
took place at Damascus had pre- and to send home an exact re-
viously been brought to the no- port as to the part which the
tice of the presidency by a coin -* Europeanonsuls had taken in
PRESIDENT VAN BUREN
munication from our consul . at the matter."
that place, in consequence there- Much good may be said to
pointing out he was the first of, a letter of instruction' was have resulted front the suffer-
President to be born under the immediately written to our •con- ings caused by the Damascus-
Atherican Flag and that he was sul at Alexandria, a copy of affair. It cemented friendship
. "the first member of an ethnic which is herew4th transmitted between Jews and Christians in
minority to be honored with for your satisfation."
enlightened countries. It aroused
the Presidency." We were told:
Secretary of State Forsyth Jews to efforts in behalf of their
"A son of a Dutch-speaking added in his letter:
people. It was 'as a result of the
family, he broke the succession "About the same time our Damascus affair that M. Adolphe
of Presidents—Washington, John charge d'affairs at 'Constant- Cremieux, noted French Jew who
Adams, Jefferson, Madison, nople was instructed to interpose co-operated with Sir Moses Mon-
Monroe, John Quincy Adams and his good offices in behalf of the tefiore in behalf of the Damas -
Jackson—all of whom were pat- oppressed and persecuted race cus victims, and organized the
ernally descended from Britons." of the Jews in Ottoman domin- Alliance Israelite Universelle. A-
There is a significant incident ions, among whose kindred are bove everything elSe, Jews will
in the life of President Van found some of the most worthy always remember the good serv-
Buren which makes him a hero and patriotic of our own citizens, ices of the English and Ameri-
in Jewish annals.
and the whole subject, which can governments in behalf of
The Damascus Affair
appeals so strongly to the uni- our people during these trying
Turning back the pages of his- versal sentiment of justice and times 114 years ago.
tory to the year 1840, American humanity, was earnestly recom-
Jews will find great satisfaction mended to his zeal and discre-
in the knowledge that this coun- tion."
try's tradition in defending the Official U.S. Protest
rights of the religiously perse-
Secretary of State Forsyth's
cuted is one of the most honored letter to John Gliddon Esq.,
and consistent in all history.
The Committee of 100, repre-
United States consul at Alexan-
Twenty-f our years ago, on the dria, Egypt, dated - at Washing- senting many organizations, syn-
eve of the Day of Atonement, ton, D.C., Aug. 14, 1840, reads as agogues and landsmanschaften
when the vicious and hoary follows:
in the community, will meet at
blood lie was charged against
"In common with all civilized 8:30 p.m., Monday, at Cong.
the Jews of Massena, in the nations, the people of the United Bnai Moshe.
st a te of New York, the most em- States have learned with horror
The conference is being con-
phatic condemnations of this the atrocious crimes imputed to vened to hear reports on pro-
stupid accusation were uttered by the Jews of Damascus, and the
gress in the past few weeks of
Christians. The Massena protest cruelties of which they have
the building of Sinai Jewish
was in reality an echo of a noble been the victims. The president
Hospital. The conference has ex-
American tradition dating back fully participates in the public. pressed the sentiment that the
114 years, to the days of the feeling and he cannot refrain hospital kitchen, and cafeteria
Damascus affair. from expressing equal surprise comply with the laws of Kash . -
The disappearance on Feb. 5, and pain, that in this advanced
1840, of the Capuchin monk To- age such unnatural practices ruth.
Guest speakers will be Rabbi
maso and his servant was picked should be ascribed - to any por-
up by enemies of the Jews as a tion of the religious world, - and Samson R. Weiss, of New York,
and Pinchus Iseson, president of
means of pressing the ritual such barbarous measures be re-
the National Council of Young
murder lie against them. The sorted to, in order to compel the
French were then the protectors confession of imputed guilt; the Israel.
of the Roman Catholics in the offenses with which these un-
All comMunity ,groups inter-
East, and French officials aimed fortunate people are charged ested in maintaining a kosher
in every way possible to strengths resemble too much those which, kitchen in the hospital are urged
en their government's position ., in less enlightened times, were to send representatives to the
in the Orient.
made the pretexts of fanatical ,meeting.
U.S. Public Opinion Aroused
persecution or mercenary extor-
With this politically selfish tion, to permit a doubt that they
motive in view, Ratti Menton, are equally unfounded.
French consul in Damascus,
"The president ha's witnessed
turned prosecutor of the Jewish, with the most lively satisfaction
people and was responsible for the efforts of several of the
a series of oppressions of aged Christian governments of Eu-
Louis Lipsky, chairman of the
Jews as well as women and chil- rope to suppress cr mitigate American Zionist Council, will
dren, in an effort to extract these horrors, and he has address a community-wide me-
from them an admission that learned with no common grati- morial meeting on Dee. 21 in
Jews actually are required to use fication their partial success. He tribute to the late President of
the blood of Christians in their is moreover anxious that the Israel, Dr. Chaim Weizmann.
Passover matzos. Evidence to active sympathy and generous Mr. Lipsky, a leading figur e
prove that a Turkish mule driv- interposition of the government in American and world.. Zionism,.
er threatened the monk's life of the United States should not was among Dr. Weizmann's clos-
was suppressed. A young Jew be withheld from so benevolent est associates in the years which
who ventured to offer informa- an object, and he has accord- led to the statehood of Israel._
tion that would lead to the dis- iingly directed me to instruct
The joint committee of the
covery of the guilty party was I you to employ, should the occa-
beaten to death. The aged Jo- Ision wise, all those good offices Zionist Council and the Jewish
Council, which are
seph Laniado died as a result of and effbrts which are compatible Community
arranging the program, have
tortures by the inquisitors. Moses I with discretion and your official stated that details of the meet-
Abulafia embraced Islam to es- ; character, to the end that just- ing will be announced at a fu-
cape pains and indignities.
1 ice and humanity may be ex-
The civilized world was arous- tended to these persecuted peo- ture date.
ed. The consuls of Austria, Prus- ple, whose cry of distress has
sia, Russia, England and the reached our shores."
Rabbi Adler Honored
United States exerted their ef- The British Protest
forts in behalf of the innocent
Similarly emphatic and im- Rabbi Morris Adler, who re-
Jewish victims who were tor- pressive was the attitude of cently was named chaplain of
tured by Rat ti Mentoif.s inquisi- Queen Victoria's goVernment. the Michigan department of
tors. But to the two English- The queen not only personally American Veterans of World War
speaking countries goes the . received Sir Moses Montefiore to II (Amvets), was given the addi-
credit for having been most em- ' extend to him .heir sympathies to tiona.I honor last vOltrek of being

By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

Hospital Kashruth
Group to Convene

Lipsky to Address
Weizmann -Meeting

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phatic in defense of the Jews the Jewish people, but placed at named the organization's ina-
and in repudiation of those who his disposal the : use of her pri- tional chaplain.

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24 — THE JEWISH NEWS
Friday, November 28, 1952

vate yacht to cross the :English
Channel on his mission' to Syria.
I In Parliament, On June 22,

Your Jewish News 'Want Ad
Number is WO. 5-1155.